Category: Panel Discussions

A contemporary interpretation of the Fair Use provisions of US Copyright law has revolutionized documentary filmmaking in recent years. Working closely with LA law firm Donaldson & Califf, White Pine Pictures has taken advantage of Fair Use provisions in several of their recent films including Buffy Sainte-Marie, Margaret Atwood, Ice-Breaker, All Governments Lie, Toxic Beauty and others.

Join White Pine Pictures President and founder, Peter Raymont to hear about Fair Use in Canadian documentary films.

🗓️ December 6th, 2022
🕔 2:00pm ET

Over the past year, CBC has introduced new equity, diversity and inclusion requirements for their productions.DOC has invited CBC’s team to speak about these changes, and to answer any questions you may have about how this will impact your current or future documentaries with CBC.

Dans le courant de l’année écoulée, CBC/Radio-Canada a mis en place de nouvelles exigences d’équité, de diversité et d’inclusion pour leurs productions. DOC a invité l’équipe de CBC/Radio-Canada à venir nous parler de ces changements et à répondre à toute question que vous vous posez sur l’impact que ces nouvelles règles pourraient avoir sur vos documentaires actuels ou à venir produits avec la CBC/SRC.

🗓️ Monday, October 24, 2022
🕔 2:00pm ET

The Association québécoise de la production médiatique, the Documentary Organization of Canada and the Canadian Media Producers Association invites its members to join Julie Blondin, National Director, Business affairs & Coproductions, Telefilm Canada as she presents the new Canada – France co-production treaty, highlighting the changes and new elements. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.

🗓️ Tuesday, September 20, 2022
🕔 2:30pm

*English session only // French session will be on September 28*

⭐ Great News!

DOC is extremely pleased to announce that we will be participating in DocuMentality: an initiative that seeks to normalize conversations about mental health and well-being in our industry. DOC is participating in this initiative in order to have clear data to bolster our advocacy for sector commitments to support mental health and well being initiatives for documentary creators.

DOC is presenting a panel discussion at TIFF that outlines the results of the UK and US focus groups that launched Documentality earlier this year, and we’ll share our plans for Documentality in Canada.  The information we collect in the therapist-led Canadian focus groups will become a guide to normalizing conversations around mental health in our sector; how documentary filmmakers can become more resilient resources for themselves, their teams and the people who entrust them with their stories; and what actions DOC can take to advocate for sectoral change.

DOC at TIFF!

DocuMentality is an expanding initiative seeking to normalize conversations about mental health in the documentary industry and provide best-practice guidance for filmmakers. The project began with efforts in the UK and US. Now, the Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) is spearheading a new wave of focus groups with support from the Canada Media Fund. On this panel, we’ll hear from DocuMentality team member Malikkah Rollins and DOC’s Sarah Spring about the past, present, and future of the movement. We’ll also hear from filmmaker Rebeca Huntt describing what she learned about maintaining mental balance in the making of her intensely personal film Beba, which premiered at TIFF last year. Moderator: Inney Prakash (Maysles Documentary Center)

🗓️ Tuesday, September 13, 2022
🕔 3:00pm

The Documentary Organization of Canada – Atlantic Chapter, is inviting you to a webinar hosted by DOC-National with a focus on the NFB (National Film Board of Canada) distribution process.

If you’ve made a film with the NFB in the past and have questions about how it’s presently being distributed and marketed, if you’re interested in how distribution works at the NFB for a potential future project, or if you’ve worked with the NFB and have ideas, concerns, or questions to share, please join us via webinar on March 1^st, 2022 at 4pm AST.

DOC will be recording notes including the participants’ comments in each regional webinar. These will be shared on docorg.ca, and will be incorporated into DOC’s advocacy work. In the future, DOC will also be hosting additional webinars with the NFB and with other stakeholders in the documentary community, based on DOC members’ interest.

In addition to the three NFB representatives listed below, the new interim Executive Producer for the Québec-Atlantic Studio, John Christou, and the new regional marketing manager, Jamie Hammond will also participate in our region’s webinar.

Sessions are scheduled to run for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

In recent years, the National Film Board of Canada has made changes to its distribution, communications and marketing departments, to meet the needs of each film produced or co-produced by the NFB.

Responding to DOC Canada’s invitation, Anne-Claire Lefaivre (Marketing), Lily Robert (Communications) and Nathalie Bourdon (Distribution) will not only explain the composition and roles of their teams, but will break down the entire process from A to Z.

In these sessions, facilitated by DOC Executive Director Sarah Spring, the NFB will demystify what happens once you begin working with the Film Board, who is responsible for your project, and who will keep you informed throughout the release.

These sessions are offered by region so that the NFB can explain how the process is tailored to the local needs of each filmmaker to ensure their artistic vision is seen and reaches their audience.

These sessions also include a discussion period to answer any questions you may have.

Also present will be your studio’s Executive Producer and Regional Marketing Manager, as well as, Director, Indigenous Relations and Community Engagement, J’net Ayayqwayaksheelth, and Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Rachel Décoste.

• Marketing Manager: Jammie Hammond
• Publicist: Osas Eweka-Smith

Everyone is welcome, DOC members and non-DOC members.

If you’d like to attend the French language webinar, you are welcome to join on March 9th at 4pm EST.

Le chapitre Atlantique de l’Association des documentaristes du Canada vous invite à un webinaire présenté par DOC National portant sur les stratégies de distribution de l’ONF (Office national du film du Canada).
 
Si le processus de distribution à l’ONF vous intéresse pour un projet que vous développez, ou si par le passé vous avez réalisé un film avec l’ONF et que vous avez des questions sur la manière dont il est mis en marché et distribué, ou encore si vous avez travaillé avec l’ONF et que vous avez des suggestions, des soucis ou des sujets de discussion que vous souhaitez partager, joignez-vous à nous le 1^er mars 2022 à 16 h. (HNA)
 
À chacun de ces webinaires régionaux, DOC prendra des notes incluant les commentaires des participant.e.s. Ces notes seront accessibles sur docorg.ca et seront incorporées au travail de représentation politique de DOC. Se basant sur les intérêts de ses membres, DOC organisera à l’avenir de nouveaux webinaires avec l’ONF et d’autres parties prenantes de la communauté documentaire. En plus des trois représentants de l’ONF mentionnés ici, John Christou, nouveau producteur exécutif par intérim du Studio du Québec et de l’Atlantique et Jamie Hammond, nouvelle agente régionale de mise en marché, participeront à notre webinaire régional.

Les séances sont programmées pour durer 1h15.

Au cours des dernières années, l’Office national du film du Canada (ONF) a apporté des changements aux services de distribution, de communication et de marketing pour répondre aux besoins de chaque film produit ou coproduit par l’organisation.

En réponse à l’invitation lancée par l’Association des documentaristes du Canada (DOC), Anne-Claire Lefaivre (marketing), Lily Robert (communication) et Nathalie Bourdon (distribution) participeront à des séances de présentation afin non seulement de décrire la composition et les rôles de leurs équipes, mais aussi de décomposer l’ensemble du processus de mise en marché de A à Z.

Durant ces séances, animées par la directrice générale de DOC, Sarah Spring, l’ONF précisera ce qu’il advient une fois que vous commencez à y travailler, mais aussi qui est responsable de votre projet et qui est chargé de vous tenir au courant tout au long du processus. 

Ces séances sont offertes par région afin que l’ONF puisse expliquer comment le processus est adapté aux besoins locaux de chaque cinéaste, pour que sa vision artistique rejoigne son public.

Une période d’échanges est également prévue à la fin de chaque séance pour que vous puissiez poser vos questions.

Vous êtes tous bienvenu.e.s, membres ou non membres de DOC.

Le webinaire se déroulera en anglais. Si vous souhaitez assister au webinaire en français, vous êtes invités à nous rejoindre le 9 mars à 16 h HNE

In recent years, the National Film Board of Canada has made changes to its distribution, communications and marketing departments, to meet the needs of each film produced or co-produced by the NFB.

Responding to DOC Canada’s invitation, Anne-Claire Lefaivre (Marketing), Lily Robert (Communications) and Nathalie Bourdon (Distribution) will not only explain the composition and roles of their teams, but will break down the entire process from A to Z.

In these sessions, facilitated by DOC Executive Director Sarah Spring, the NFB will demystify what happens once you begin working with the Film Board, who is responsible for your project, and who will keep you informed throughout the release.

These sessions are offered by region so that the NFB can explain how the process is tailored to the local needs of each filmmaker to ensure their artistic vision is seen and reaches their audience.

These sessions also include a discussion period to answer any questions you may have.

Also present will be your studio’s Executive Producer and Regional Marketing Manager, as well as, Director, Indigenous Relations and Community Engagement, J’net Ayayqwayaksheelth, and Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Rachel Décoste.

• Marketing Managers: Kelly Fox & Kay Rondonneau
• Publicist: Katja De Boc

Sessions are scheduled to run for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Everyone is welcome, DOC members and non-DOC members. If you’d like to attend the French language webinar, you are welcome to join on March 9th at 4pm EST.

Au cours des dernières années, l’Office national du film du Canada (ONF) a apporté des changements aux services de distribution, de communication et de marketing pour répondre aux besoins de chaque film produit ou coproduit par l’organisation.

En réponse à l’invitation lancée par l’Association des documentaristes du Canada (DOC), Anne-Claire Lefaivre (marketing), Lily Robert (communication) et Nathalie Bourdon (distribution) participeront à des séances de présentation afin non seulement de décrire la composition et les rôles de leurs équipes, mais aussi de décomposer l’ensemble du processus de mise en marché de A à Z.

Durant ces séances, animées par la directrice générale de DOC, Sarah Spring, l’ONF précisera ce qu’il advient une fois que vous commencez à y travailler, mais aussi qui est responsable de votre projet et qui est chargé de vous tenir au courant tout au long du processus. 

Ces séances sont offertes par région afin que l’ONF puisse expliquer comment le processus est adapté aux besoins locaux de chaque cinéaste, pour que sa vision artistique rejoigne son public.

Une période d’échanges est également prévue à la fin de chaque séance pour que vous puissiez poser vos questions.

Le webinaire se déroulera en anglais. Si vous souhaitez assister au webinaire en français, vous êtes invités à nous rejoindre le 9 mars à 16 h HNE

In recent years, the National Film Board of Canada has made changes to its distribution, communications and marketing departments, to meet the needs of each film produced or co-produced by the NFB.

Responding to DOC Canada’s invitation, Anne-Claire Lefaivre (Marketing), Lily Robert (Communications) and Nathalie Bourdon (Distribution) will not only explain the composition and roles of their teams, but will break down the entire process from A to Z.

In these sessions, facilitated by DOC Executive Director Sarah Spring, the NFB will demystify what happens once you begin working with the Film Board, who is responsible for your project, and who will keep you informed throughout the release.

These sessions are offered by region so that the NFB can explain how the process is tailored to the local needs of each filmmaker to ensure their artistic vision is seen and reaches their audience.

These sessions also include a discussion period to answer any questions you may have.

Also present will be your studio’s Executive Producer and Regional Marketing Manager, as well as, Director, Indigenous Relations and Community Engagement, J’net Ayayqwayaksheelth, and Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Rachel Décoste.

• Marketing Manager: Jessica Gedge
• Publicist: Jenn Mair

Sessions are scheduled to run for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Everyone is welcome, DOC members and non-DOC members. If you’d like to attend the French language webinar, you are welcome to join on March 9th at 4pm EST.

Au cours des dernières années, l’Office national du film du Canada (ONF) a apporté des changements aux services de distribution, de communication et de marketing pour répondre aux besoins de chaque film produit ou coproduit par l’organisation.

En réponse à l’invitation lancée par l’Association des documentaristes du Canada (DOC), Anne-Claire Lefaivre (marketing), Lily Robert (communication) et Nathalie Bourdon (distribution) participeront à des séances de présentation afin non seulement de décrire la composition et les rôles de leurs équipes, mais aussi de décomposer l’ensemble du processus de mise en marché de A à Z.

Durant ces séances, animées par la directrice générale de DOC, Sarah Spring, l’ONF précisera ce qu’il advient une fois que vous commencez à y travailler, mais aussi qui est responsable de votre projet et qui est chargé de vous tenir au courant tout au long du processus. 

Ces séances sont offertes par région afin que l’ONF puisse expliquer comment le processus est adapté aux besoins locaux de chaque cinéaste, pour que sa vision artistique rejoigne son public.

Une période d’échanges est également prévue à la fin de chaque séance pour que vous puissiez poser vos questions

Le webinaire se déroulera en anglais. Si vous souhaitez assister au webinaire en français, vous êtes invités à nous rejoindre le 9 mars à 16 h HNE

In recent years, the National Film Board of Canada has made changes to its distribution, communications and marketing departments, to meet the needs of each film produced or co-produced by the NFB.

Responding to DOC Canada’s invitation, Anne-Claire Lefaivre (Marketing), Lily Robert (Communications) and Nathalie Bourdon (Distribution) will not only explain the composition and roles of their teams, but will break down the entire process from A to Z.

In these sessions, facilitated by DOC Executive Director Sarah Spring, the NFB will demystify what happens once you begin working with the Film Board, who is responsible for your project, and who will keep you informed throughout the release.

These sessions are offered by region so that the NFB can explain how the process is tailored to the local needs of each filmmaker to ensure their artistic vision is seen and reaches their audience.

These sessions also include a discussion period to answer any questions you may have.

This event was recorded. If you missed it and would like to watch the session, please email info at docorg dot ca

Everyone is welcome, DOC members and non-DOC members. If you’d like to attend the French language webinar, you are welcome to join on March 9th at 4pm EST.

Au cours des dernières années, l’Office national du film du Canada (ONF) a apporté des changements aux services de distribution, de communication et de marketing pour répondre aux besoins de chaque film produit ou coproduit par l’organisation.

En réponse à l’invitation lancée par l’Association des documentaristes du Canada (DOC), Anne-Claire Lefaivre (marketing), Lily Robert (communication) et Nathalie Bourdon (distribution) participeront à des séances de présentation afin non seulement de décrire la composition et les rôles de leurs équipes, mais aussi de décomposer l’ensemble du processus de mise en marché de A à Z.

Durant ces séances, animées par la directrice générale de DOC, Sarah Spring, l’ONF précisera ce qu’il advient une fois que vous commencez à y travailler, mais aussi qui est responsable de votre projet et qui est chargé de vous tenir au courant tout au long du processus. 

Ces séances sont offertes par région afin que l’ONF puisse expliquer comment le processus est adapté aux besoins locaux de chaque cinéaste, pour que sa vision artistique rejoigne son public.

Une période d’échanges est également prévue à la fin de chaque séance pour que vous puissiez poser vos questions.

Le webinaire se déroulera en anglais. Si vous souhaitez assister au webinaire en français, vous êtes invités à nous rejoindre le 9 mars à 16 h HNE

Ce webinaire se déroulera en anglais. Les changements auront uniquement un impact sur les productions de la CBC et non sur celles de Radio-Canada.

As of January 3rd, 2022, CBC will be requiring completion and delivery of a carbon footprint on all original Canadian productions from independent producers with budgets over $400,000

• Press release about the changes.

DOC has invited CBC’s Environmental Sustainability Lead to guide our members through CBC’s new Green Initiatives on February 10th 2022 at 1pm ET. They will be your contact for any questions about completing or complying with the CBC’s green initiatives, so this is a great opportunity to hear from them directly and ask any questions.

Some useful tools from CBC ahead of our session:

• 90 second video on the carbon calculator tool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-T47wQvKFA
• A link to the albert calculator to get an account: https://calc.wearealbert.org/request-account
• A link to One Stop Business Work shop – Green Week sessions that include demystifying green terms (Session 1), a producer panel on use of the carbon calculator (Session 2), along with a demo on how to use the carbon calculator (using a doc as the example): https://www.cbc.ca/businessandrights/one-stop-workshops/season-3
• A pdf of the sustainable production plan (for temporary use by productions with budgets under $400 k if they can’t do a carbon footprint calculation): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kFUBNTdSXIvFcSeRMlIYS5exhqD6kgdC/view?usp=sharing
• And finally, a link to other green production resources including a carbon calculator tip sheet; carbon calculation training in BC; Ontario and by BAFTA albert (open to residents anywhere worldwide): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kFUBNTdSXIvFcSeRMlIYS5exhqD6kgdC/view?usp=sharing

Meet the Funder is a professional development series that brings funders & non-fiction content creators together to share information.

CBC returns for a follow-up Meet the Funders panel on Thursday, November 4. Join DOC for an exclusive presentation from Sandra Kleinfeld (Senior Director, Documentary), Michelle McCree (Executive in Charge of Production, The Passionate Eye), Nic Meloney (Production Executive, Unscripted Content), and Monique vanRemortel (Business and Rights for Documentary and Unscripted) as they provide a detailed overview of new changes to the CBC’s documentary commissioning operations.

This FREE event is open to DOC members only.
ASL interpretation will be provided.

About the panelists

Sandra Kleinfeld, Senior Director, Documentary

Sandra has been Senior Director of Documentary for CBC Television for the past 5 years, overseeing the network’s documentary strands and the subscription based documentary Channel.

Michelle McCree, Executive in Charge of Production, The Passionate Eye

She is also part of the team leading CBC’s equity and representation strategy for the Unscripted Content department. Prior to joining the documentary team, Michelle was a senior leader on the Factual Entertainment team, overseeing a broad range of titles, most recently the docu-series Anyone’s Game and the award-winning series Still Standing. Before joining CBC, Michelle worked across genres as a director, writer and producer for a number of broadcasters including Discovery, Blue Ant Media and Independent Film Channel.

Nic Meloney, Production Executive, Unscripted Content

Nic Meloney is a mixed heritage Wolastoqi/Canadian journalist. A member of Woodstock First Nation in Wolastokuk/New Brunswick and a Cape Bretoner, Nic lives and works in Mi’kma’ki/Nova Scotia, the unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq. He joined CBC Nova Scotia as a video journalist in 2016, and covered the Atlantic region with CBC Indigenous starting in 2017. His work with CBC’s Indigenous Unit has taken him to Inuit, First Nations, and Métis communities across Canada, producing regional and national news for all broadcast platforms. His expertise has been in the development and production of digital video features and television documentaries, both long and short-form, as well as syndicated, local, and national radio content.

Monique vanRemortel, Business and Rights for Documentary and Unscripted

As the Senior Director of Business & Rights for CBC’s Unscripted Programming, Monique Van Remortel oversees the business deals for the development and production of CBC and the Documentary Channel’s commissioned documentaries as well as CBC’s commissioned Factual and Arts programming. Monique’s team works closely with independent producers to help navigate the complexities of the Canadian Media Fund, tax credits, and other available third party funds to ensure a project’s budget, financing structure, and rights package make sense for the broadcaster in a rapidly changing media landscape. Prior to joining CBC in 2004, Monique was in a boutique entertainment and intellectual property law practice where she represented writers, artists, photographers, producers, and talent. Monique has been working in the arts and entertainment/media industry for more than 20 years.

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DOC Institute develops and leads programs to help filmmakers succeed at every stage of their careers. Offering creative inspiration and insider advice, we’re a hub for the non-fiction community. DOC Institute is a one-stop shop for professionals to learn business skills, hone their craft and make industry connections.

Thank you to Ontario Creates for your support.

Industry Experts and Filmmakers Share Their Festival Experience

Join us in our upcoming moderated panel: After Hot Docs – Industry Experts and Filmmakers Share Their Festival Experience on May 25th at 5PM PST | 6PM MST | 8PM EST.

Let’s wrap up the festival by bringing together a broad group of Hot Docs participants, from festival programmers, Deal Maker and Forum pitch participants to first time Hot Docs festival filmmakers, who will reflect on their experiences during the festival. 

This is a webinar for emerging and established filmmakers, for filmmakers who were part of this year’s festival or filmmakers who would like to find out what they missed, and what the virtual festival landscape looks like.